Trio of Home Runs Power Tourists to 8-2 Win

ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists displayed an impressive, combined effort of pitching, hitting, and defense in their 8-2 victory over the Rome Braves on Friday night. Wilyer Abreu, Yainer Diaz, and Shay Whitcomb all hit Home Runs for Asheville while starting pitcher Alfredi Jimenez dominated over his six innings of work.

The Braves plated an unearned run in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. That came after Rome rallied for three hits in the top of the first. Asheville’s defense showed up right out of the gate with a relay from centerfield to home plate to cut down a run and C.J. Stubbs hosed a runner attempting to steal second.

The Tourists tied the score 1-1 in the bottom of the second when Diaz launched a single high off the centerfield wall. Traffic on the base paths kept Diaz from stretching it into a double; however, Stubbs raced home to score on the base hit. Abreu cleared the bases with a three-run Home Run to right field that gave Asheville a 4-1 lead after two.

Rome managed to score a run in the top of the third with a two-out rally, but it would be the last run the Braves would receive. Jimenez retired the next ten batters in a row. Chandler Casey sat down the next five Rome hitters over the course of two scoreless relief innings. Ray Gaither sealed the win with a shutdown ninth.

Offensively, Diaz and Whitcomb provided some additional cushion. Diaz hit a solo Home Run in the fourth and Whitcomb crushed a two-run blast in the fifth. Luis Guerrero, who finished with a team-high three hits, plated a run in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.

Asheville and Rome are tied up with two wins apiece in the series. Both teams will square off from McCormick Field on Saturday at 6:05pm ET.